Device for use in the manufacture of ornamental fabrics



June 26, 1934.

D. M. CAMPBELL DEVICE FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ORNAMENTAL FABRICS Filed April 6, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l gmwwb Daniel M Oampbe/l @Wioowau June 26, 1934. D CAMPBELL 1,964,501

DEVICE FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ORNAMENTAL FABRICS Filed April 6, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Flql4.

Dan/'e/ M Campbell 3? awn new Patented June 26, 1934 DEVICE FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ORNAMENTAL FABRICS Daniel Morton Campbell, Duntocher, Dumbarton shire, Scotland, assignor to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 6, 1933, Serial No. 664,757. In Great Britain and Switzerland September 15 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for use in the manufacture of ornamental fabrics, particularly pile fabrics, fringed fabrics and the like, to be used, for instance, as coverings, such as floor cov- 5 erings, cushion covers, table covers and the like.

It is already known to wind yarn or like material in closely spaced loops around a forked member or bar, and to secure the wound yarn to a base fabric or backing by means of a line or lines 1 of stitches formed in the gap between the prongs of the fork, or, if the loops are enchained with one another along one edge of the bar, by means of a line or lines of stitches which tie the chain to the base fabric, whereupon the loops may be cut to form a row of tufts, it being understood that to produce a continuous pile surface further rows of tufts are formed parallel to the first.

To cut the loops the forked member or bar is provided at its edge remote from the stitching line 20 with a knife which severs the loops on withdrawal of the bar.

The invention consists broadly in the provision of improved means for locking the knife in operative position.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan of a preferred construction according to the invention in which the loop-forming member is of forked formation; Fig. 2 is an inverted plan and Fig. 3 an end elevation; Fig. 4 is a detached view of a knife guard serving to shield the fingers of the operator; Fig. 5 a similar view of the knife; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the fork from which the guard and knife have been detached.

Fig. 7 is a plan view similar to Fig. 1 showing a construction in which one prong of the fork is considerably narrower than the other.

Fig. 8 is a plan and Fig. 9 a transverse section on the line a-a of Fig. 8 showing a modification.

Fig. 10 is a plan and Fig. 11 an end elevation of a modified construction in which the loop-forming device proper is constituted as an undivided bar. Fig. 12 is a plan, Fig. 13 an end elevation and Fig. 14 a fragmentary inverted plan showing a further modification.

The device illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 comprises a thin flat bar or strip of spring metal which is bifurcated to form prongs 1 and 2 separated by a longitudinal stitch-receiving gap 3; the prong 1 being in this case slightly wider than the prong 2, the width of which latter is about equal to twice the width of the gap 3. The prong 1 is formed close to its free end With an orifice penetrated by a pin 4 on which is pivoted a clip 5 constituted by folding over on itself a sheet metal blank, said clip presenting jaws adapted frictionally to engage the free end portion of the prong 2 so as to hold it properly spaced from and parallel to the prong 1 when a winding of yarn or the like is applied to the fork.

Detachably fitted to the prong 1 are the guard and knife elements of Figs. 4 and 5, respectively.

The guard element may be of thin sheet metal having a shank 6 and an offset flanged portion 7 joined by the neck 8 to the shank 6. Rising from the shank 6 are a headed stud 9 and a positioning pin 10. The shank 6 is also formed at its inner end with a folded back hook 11.

The knife 12 is made of laminar steel or safety razor blade stock and is formed with a razor edge 13, a positioning aperture 14 and a key-hole slot 15. lhe aperture 14 fits upon the pin 10. The key-hole slot 15 is large enough at its wide end to clear the head of the stud 9.

The knife 12 is also formed with an offset lug 16 adjacent to which is a segmental notch 17.

The prong 1 is formed near its free end with a key-hole slot 18 to receive the headed stud 9 and with a straight slot 19 to receive the pin 10. The prong l is further provided with a straight slot 20 to receive the hook 11 which is adapted to overlie the prong 1 so as normally toprevent separation of the inner end of the guard shank 6 from the prong 1.

To assemble the device, the knife 12 is first laid upon the guard shank 6 with the pin 10 and headed stud 9 projecting through the aperture 14 and key-hole slot 15, respectively, and with the razor edge 13 disposed between the plane of the guard shank 6 and the plane containing the free edge of the guard flange. The apertured end of the prong 1 is then laid upon the assembled knife and guard with the headed stud 9, pin 10 and hook 11 projecting through the slots 18, 19 and 20, respectively. The knife and guard assembly and the prong are then relatively displaced endwise of the prong to bring the narrow portion of the key-hole slot 18 under the head of the stud 9 and to cause the hook 11 to overlap the prong at one end of the slot 20, the lug 16 being flexed to permit the boss of the clip 5 to enter the segmental notch l'7. In this position of the parts the knife and guard are locked against accidental displacement from operative position upon the fork.

To disassemble the parts, the lug 16 is flexed to clear the boss of the clip 5, and the knife and guard are then slipped in the direction to carry the headed stud 9 into the enlarged end of the key-hole slot 18 and to disengage the hook 11 110 from the prong 1 for removal of the knife and guard.

In the use of the device, as in that of the device described in the specification filed with the application of Daniel Henry Chason, dated J anuary 4, 1933, Serial No. 650,073, wool or other suitable yarn or like material is wound spirally round the forked member, and the knife end of the device is placed under the presser-foot of a sewing machine upon a suitable lining or backing to which the yarn loops are stitched by a line of stitches in the gap 3. When the available length of yarn on the fork has been sewn, the fork is partially withdrawn, preferably leaving five to ten loops on the fork to keep the correct line and position. Further yarn is then Wound on the fork and pushed down evenly towards the loops still remaining on the fork, the work being continued in this manner to the end of the row being worked.

It will be understood that, as the fork is being withdrawn, the yarn loops slip readily over the guard shank 6 and the hook 11 and over the rounded end of the pin 10 without impedance or danger of being snagged by any of these parts and are severed with a draw-cut by the razor edge 13, so as to produce a row of tufts. The spacing clip 5 is pushed to its open or dotted line position, Fig. 1, by the initial stitches of the seam. Being permanently attached to the prong 1, the clip 5 cannot be misplaced or lost.

In the use of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 6, after the formation of one row of tufts the fork is shifted laterally a distance about equal to the width of the gap 3 so that in the formation of the next row of tufts the line of stitching will pass through the yarn already secured to the base fabric or backing by a first line of stitches.

The backing may be of canvas or other textile fabric or may be of paper which can be removed after completion of the work.

It is to be noted that, the knife being of highly tempered steel, the lug 16 can be flexed an indefinite number of times without permanent deformation of the metal.

On detachment of the knife and guard the fork may be used in a similar fashion in the production of work with uncut loops. It will be observed that, when the knife and guard are removed, the fork is free from projections liable to snag the loops being stripped therefrom.

In the device shown in Fig. '7 the narrow prong 2 is of a width about equal to the width of the gap 3, so that in forming a pile fabric with closely spaced rows of tufts the stitches which anchor one row to the backing do not penetrate the tufts of an adjoining row.

In the modified form shown in Figs. 8 and 9 a knife 21 of resilient laminar steel and a knife guard 22 are fitted respectively to the upper and lower sides of the wider prong 1 and normally held in place by headed studs 24 projecting from the upper face of the guard 22 and engaging keyhole slots 25 in the prong 1 and in the knife 21. The knife 21 is provided at its free end with a lug 26 engageable by one finger of the operator to flex the knife preparatory to endwise displacement of the knife to bring the wide ends of the key-hole slots 25 into register with the heads of the studs 24 and thus permit detachment of the knife. A tongue 26 struck from the knife 21 is adapted to engage the terminal end of the prong 1 so as normally to restrain the knife against displacement in the direction to permit release of the stud and slot connections. As will be understood on detachment of the knife, the guard ma prongs 1, 2.

In the modified construction shown in Figs.

10 and 11 the loop-former is constituted by an undivided bar the mode of use of which in the formation of tufted fabrics is substantially such as described in the specification filed with the application of Jean Gregoriou Sakellarides, dated February 25, 1933, Serial No. 658,552.

As described in the said specification, the loopformer is constituted by a flat metal bar 31 pre senting straight parallel edges and of a width depending on the desired height of the tufts.

According to the present invention, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, there is fitted to one end of the bar 31 a knife 32 of laminar steel, as, for example, of safety razor blade stock, presenting a razor edge 33.

The knife 32 is formed near its ends with keyhole slots 34 engageable by headed studs 35 projecting from the upper face of the bar 31 and midway between the slots with a locating orifice engageable by a pin 36 also projecting from the upper face of the bar 31. At the edge remote from the razor edge 3 and close to the locating orifice the knife 32 is formed with a lug or projection 3'7.

By inserting the fingernail under the lug 37 the knife 32 may be sufiiciently flexed to disengage the orifice from the pin 36, whereupon the knife may be slid longitudinally of the bar 31, so that the studs 35 come into the wide portions of the key-hole slots 34, when the knife may be detached from the bar.

The converse operation is effected in replacing the knife after re-sharpening or in substituting a fresh knife.

In the modified construction shown in Figs. 12 to 14 the knife 38 is formed at its ends with open-ended slots 39 and 40 engageable by headed studs 41, 42. Between its ends the knife is formed with an aperture 43 exposing an L-shaped slot 44 in the bar 45. The stud 41 is fixed to the bar 45. The stud 42 engageable with the slot 40 penetrates an elongated slot 46 in the bar and is connected by a bridge piece 47 with the headed pin 48 engaging the L-shaped slot 44. 49 denotes a spring urging the bridge piece 47 in the direction towards the cutting edge of the knife.

It will be seen that by manipulation of the head of the pin 48 the bridge piece 47 may be moved laterally and then endwise so that the stud 42 is disengaged from the slot 40 whereupon the knife may be disconnected from the bar.

In the form illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 the bar 31 is flat and a flanged knife guard 50 is riveted to the under side of the bar.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 12 to 14 the bar is of channel section and is formed integral with a knife guard 51.

I claim:

1. A device for the purpose specified comprising a flat loop-former, and a knife of flexible metal having a stud and slot connection with said loop-former, said connection being releasable by flexing said knife.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a flat loop-forming member, and a knife of resilient metal having a pin and key-hole slot connection with said member and normally locked against displacement in the direction to disengage said connection but releasable by flexing said knife.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a flat loop-forming member, a knife and a knifeguard having a headed stud and keyhole slot connection with said member, and means engageable with said knife and normally restraining said knife against displacement endwise of said member.

4. A device of the class described, comprising a flat loop-forming member having parallel edges, a slotted knife of flexible metal having an instantly detachable connection with said member and presenting a cutting edge oblique to said parallel edges, a guard for said cutting edge, and means normally restraining said knife against displacement relatively to said member in the direction lengthwise of the slot, said means being rendered inoperative by flexing said knife.

5. A device of the class described, comprising a forked loop-forming member having two prongs separated by a stitch-receiving gap, and a loopcutting knife of flexible metal operatively connectible with one of said prongs and normally restrained against movement relatively to said prong but releasable by flexing part of said knife.

6. A device of the class described, comprising a forked loop-forming member having two prongs separated by a stitch-receiving gap, a loop-cutting knife of flexible metal having an instantly detachable connection with one of said prongs, and a locking member attached to said last mentioned prong and engageable with said knife to lock said knife in operative position, said knife being releasable from said locking member by flexing the knife.

7. A device of the class described, comprising a forked loop-forming member having two prongs separated by a stitch-receiving gap, and a loop cutting knife having a stud and slot connection with one of said prongs.

8. A device of the class described, comprising a forked loop-forming member having two prongs separated by a stitch-receiving gap, a loop-cutting knife connectible to one of said prongs so as to present a cutting edge projecting beyond the outer edge of said prong, a knife-guard connectible to said last mentioned prong, and a spacing member connected to said last mentioned prong and engageable with the other prong, said spacing member adapted to enter into locking engagement with said knife.

9. A device of the class described, comprising a forked loop-forming member having two prongs separated by a stitch-receiving gap, a knife having an instantly detachable connection with one of said prongs, and a spacing member pivoted to said last mentioned prong and engageable with the other prong, said spacing member adapted normally to lock said knife in operative position.

10. A device of the class described comprising a forked loop-forming member having two prongs separated by a stitch-receiving gap, a. loop-cutting knife having a stud and key-hole slot connection with one of said prongs, and means fitted to said last mentioned prong and engageable with said knife for locking said knife with the stud traversing the narrow end of said slot.

11. A device of the class described, comprising a forked loop-forming member having two prongs separated by a stitch-receiving gap, at loop-cutting knife connectible to one of said prongs and requiring to be slid endwise of said prong for disconnection from said prong, and a member fitted to said last mentioned prong and engageable with said knife for locking said knife against sliding movement.

12. A device of the class described, comprising a forked loop-forming member having two prongs separated by a stitch-receiving gap, a knife of flexible metal connectible to one of said prongs, and formed with a recess, and a locking device fitted to said last mentioned prong and engageable with said recess to lock said knife in operative position, said locking device being disengageable from said recess by flexing part of said knife.

13. A device of the class described, comprising a forked loop-forming member having two prongs separated by a stitch-receiving gap, a loop-cutting knife connectible to one of said prongs and presenting a cutting edge projecting beyond the outer edge of one of said prongs, and a knife guard comprising a flat shank portion connectible to said last mentioned prong and a flanged edgeguarding portion offset from the plane of said flat portion.

14. A device of the class described, comprising a forked loop-forming member having two prongs separated by a stitch-receiving gap, and a loopcutting knife of flexible metal having a stud and slot connection with one of said prongs, said knife formed with a tongue struck out therefrom and engageable with said last mentioned prong whereby normally to prevent displacement of said knife relatively to said prong in the direction to disengage said connection.

15. A device for the purpose specified comprising a flat loop-forming member, a knife having an instantly releasable connection with said member and disposed on one side of said member, and a flanged knife guard disposed on the other side of said member, the flange of said guard extending beyond the plane of said knife.

DANIEL MORTON CAMPBELL. 

